As we kick off the election process, I thought this was appropriate.... “I’m not running for reelection, so this is my last time to address you. But I’ll still be a part of this conference. I’ll probably be doing valet parking out front next year.”
Washington, D.C., Mayor Anthony Williams, to other mayors attending the United States Conference of Mayors meeting in Washington

If you would like to see a better funding environment for startups in Montana, please get involved..."Montana Needs to Develop a More Robust and Active Funding Environment for Entrepreneurs and Startups" http://www.matr.net/article-17845.html ........."Venture capital sends cash to Utah businesses. $40 Million here...$45 Million there. Pretty soon you're talking about real money. $249 million in '05. Now that's economic development!!" http://www.matr.net/article-17858.html

Is increased spending the solution to a quality education?Here’s a modest, progressive suggestion for educational reform: give vouchers equal to 50 percent of governmental funding to the parents. This will provide the incentives to create an educational environment that rewards good teaching, encourages parental involvement, rewards positive innovation, and gives our most disadvantaged hope for the future.

State of education: Who makes the grade?It's difficult to prove what actually makes one state outperform another. Key factors such as per-pupil spending and student demographics vary widely, even among top-performing states.

Early education essential, pays offMany believe in one specific education and economic development strategy that will, by itself, do more than any other strategy to break the cycle of poverty as well as optimize future economic growth in the United States.
That strategy is to invest significantly in quality early education and preschool programs.

Smurfit-Stone: Chairman of the BoardOne strategy is to invest in high-speed corrugators in certain strategic geographic markets that are capable of producing large volumes of linerboard. This move will allow the company to eliminate 10 to 15 corrugated-container plants, and help focus its production on maximizing machine utilization.

Rep. Denny Rehberg, R-Mont., tours Zoot Enterprises in Four Corners, MontanaZoot does instant credit applications for customers and as Nelson showed Rehberg around the building, the congressman asked how the company might apply its computer technologies in new ways. For example, Rehberg wondered if Zoot's technologies could be used for managing federal programs, such as a trust fund for American Indians.

Para-rescuers go underground for training in Butte, MontanaMen and women training with the military contractor are the cream-of-the-crop, and the Butte setting provides a variety of training experiences. And Alne pointed out that with the tragic outcome of recent coal mining disasters in West Virginia, exercises like those practiced in Butte Wednesday are especially critical.

Call Centers Tap People For Work at HomeThe development, driven by expanded broadband access to the Web, cheaper computer technology and improved call-routing systems, has opened the door to an entirely new group of at-home workers.

Montana Congressman Denny Rehberg vows to continue CDBG funding"Providing assistance for development and sustainability for Montana's communities is essential," Rehberg said. "The program strengthens our communities and provides an opportunity for growth and development, which across parts of Montana is a priority."

Group gives Idaho B in job creation, F in payThe state was ranked sixth in the nation for the number of jobs produced, but among the lowest in the nation in the criteria used to identify quality jobs, including average pay (46th), annual pay growth (48th), number of working poor (41st), and the number of people who have to accept part-time work because full-time jobs are not available (33rd).

The Unwired Future, On HoldThe issue of broadband wireless spectrum is especially pertinent to the Rocky Mountain West, where rugged topography and geographical distance make stringing fiber-optic cable an unrealistic prospect for many thriving, but remote communities.

WiMAX Forum Announces First Certified ProductsThe WiMAX Forum is an industry-led, non-profit corporation formed to help promote and certify the compatibility and interoperability of broadband wireless products using the IEEE 802.16 and ETSI HiperMAN wireless MAN specifications. The Forum's goal is to accelerate the introduction of these devices into the marketplace.

Montana Mayors' Academy set Feb. 1-3 at MSU"The academy will also help the mayors create a network of peers, which will reinforce best practices, and it will increase awareness of the resources available to them and reduce risk exposure and legal liability," Jelinski said.

Earth could warm up faster than previously thoughtRecent studies of some of nature's environmental "records" show that global warming can penetrate deep into the ocean faster than scientists have realized. In fact, some such penetration may have already begun.

Robot set loose to film your insidesThe robot is only 15 millimetres in diameter, allowing it to be inserted through the small incisions in the abdomen used for keyhole surgery. It is controlled from a console equipped with a joystick.